Agreed. As weak as Tim is, the Ferlie Factor will keep him on for one more week at least.
Sorry for the late review, but I have school on Tuesday nights and will be watching the show late in the evening this year. Last night actually surprised me in a pleasant way. There were none of the total train wrecks I expected, one WTF was that performance but no complete disasters.
Still, at the end nothing really changed in the overall scheme. The top 3 probably further distanced themselves from the rest of the contestants, followed by a group of 5 fighting for the last two “recording contract” position (1 thru 5), and a back group of 4 that are honestly just fighting for those final 2 touring spots to make some money.
On to the rankings:
THE TOP THREE – these 3 have stamped this competition as their own, they know who they are and it is absolutely clear exactly what type of album they will put out.
1. Siobhan Magnus – Paint it Black – I called this song last Wednesday and I was dead on in my expectations. Started a little slow to be honest, but DAYUM what a finish, and the glory note was unbelievable. The girl has it in spades, and she slayed this song tonight. One small critique though ; Siobhan honey, the 60’s called and they said to tell daddy they appreciate the effort but he can give it up now, they ended 40 years ago.
2. Crystal Bowersox – You Can’t Always Get What You Want – But you Always Know What You’ll Get when Crystal performs. She was not as good as some of her other performances, but not as good Crystal is still miles ahead of most singers. Excellent performance.
3. Michael Lynche – Miss You – I really loved this interpretation, and over the last 3 weeks Big Mike has taken command of the stage and has showed a vocal range that I doubt anyone knew he had. That Falsetto is BAD!!! And that is a GOOD BAD!!!! Look, the guy can sing, he is a serious R&B stylist, and the man has a shot to win. End of story.
THE REST OF THE BEST – I have 5 in this group that I think all have a legitimate shot at a top 5 position for various reasons, a couple are ahead of the others at the moment, but they all have potential to improve and surprise us.
4. Lee Dewyze – Beast of Burden – Lee is this years Danny Gokey, Elliot Yamin contestant. To be brutally honest, he is very limited vocally and he has no stage presence at all, but when he hits his voices sweet spot he is as good as anyone in the competition. He is one to watch out for if he continues to improve.
5. Casey James – It’s All Over Now – I really liked this performance, but Casey has a long way to go to actually be a true top 5 contestant. He is 5th tonight because I liked the arrangement and guitar; but he is even more vocally limited than Lee, and I am not sure he really has a true sweet spot to wow us.
6. Andrew Garcia – Gimme Shelter – See Casey James. Like this performance, but Andrew has limitations that may keep 6th or 7th as his ceiling.
7. Didi Benami – Playing With Fire – Didi is the other singer along with Lee that I consider a true top 5 contender, but I marked her down tonight because I just did not like this arrangement. I loved her voice, and she looked stunning, but the song almost put me to sleep to be honest. She just doesn’t have the grit to actually pull this type of song off.
8. Katie Stevens – Wild Horses – Katie truly has a top 5 voice, the girl has a 30 year old voice in a 17 year old body, but the same old Katie limitations were all on show tonight. At times she looked like a scared little girl, and at others she looked like a girl trying to be an adult. I really really want to love Katie because vocally she is one of the best, but there is just something missing right now. HOWEVER, one thing I did hear, this girl should seriously consider Country Music, she has the perfect vocal tone for that genre. Seriously.
THE ALSO RANS:
9. Paige Miles – Honky Tonk Woman – I really toyed with putting Paige in the middle group, but I am just not completely sold on her yet. I think she distanced herself from the bottom 3 tonight, but she has to have another couple weeks of good performances before she enters the picture for anything beyond a tour spot. The girl has a power house voice, but I have yet to hear her really connect with a song.
10. Tim Urban – Under My Thumb – Stones go Reggae???? WTF????? OK, the only reason Tim is not 12th is that vocally this performance was actually pretty good, but WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT????? Tim Tim Tim… ***Shaking my head in shock and horror***
11. Aaron Kelly –Angie – Aaron picked the right song for him, and I am sure a lot of people have him ranked higher, but the kids voice is absolute FINGERS ON A CHALKBOARD TO ME. He is nasally, whiney, off key on almost every single note. But, it was his best performance to date if that counts for anything. It still stunk, but I didn’t throw up this time.
12. Lacey Brown – Ruby Tuesday – This was just BAD! And this was a BAD BAD! Not train wreck quality bad, but still bottom of the barrel bad. If Aaron’s voice is fingers on a chalkboard to me, then Lacey’s is fingers followed by someone smacking be upside the head with the whole board. I understand some singers like to “warble” notes, but good god, not EVERY SINGLE FRIGGIN ONE OF THEM!!!! STOP ALREADY! PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD STOP SINGING!!!!!
Should go home – Yes I hate Aaron and Lacey, and I think they have no business being in the top 12, but let’s be honest here – REGGAE???? Are you Serious???? Tim Tim Tim, what WERE you thinking.
Will go home – This is a no brainer – he desecrated the Stones man, and that is an unforgivable sin. BUH BYE TIM.